Principal 2D Animator

Workplays; Warszawa; Hybrid; PLN 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote-first, work from anywhere

Learning & development budgets

Medical coverage & well-being budget

Yearly bonus

Job summary

RubyPlay is seeking a Principal 2D Animator to lead animation delivery across studios, taking ownership from concept to polish in a fully remote setup. You’ll work directly with art directors, set quality standards, and shape our animation pipeline.

Responsibilities include mentoring animators, driving cross-team collaboration, and advancing mobile-friendly visuals while collaborating with developers and artists across multiple projects.

Qualifications

• Expert-level proficiency in Spine (primary animation tool); strong command of other animation/VFX tools is a plus.
• Strong professional English
• 6+ years in the games industry (gambling or non-gambling) with a proven track record of high-level individual contribution.
• Proactive and resourceful — able to analyze workflows, spot risks, and independently drive improvements that speed up animation without sacrificing quality.
• Strong cross-department collaboration skills — able to communicate complex animation concepts to developers and artists and land on efficient technical solutions together.
• An outstanding portfolio showcasing exceptional game animations, technical rigs, and complex problem-solving.
• Mastery of animation principles and advanced mobile optimisation techniques.
• Outstanding teamwork, communication, and self-development skills.

Responsibilities

• Act as a high-level bridge between Art and Tech, resolving cross-team dependencies and bottlenecks to keep animation implementation seamless
• Mentor and coach other animators, raising the team's overall skill level and fostering continuous technical and artistic growth
• Set the studio-wide benchmark for animation quality, driving long-term animation strategy and pipeline efficiency
• Study competitors' feel and timing to raise our own bar and push the industry forward
• Bring experience with VFX for mobile devices — creating effects and working with particle systems
• Deliver top-tier, complex animations — symbols, backgrounds, characters, UI elements, pop-up banners — quickly and to a high standard
• Work across and establish best practices for a wide range of animation styles, from cartoon to realistic to stylised

Skills

Spine

English proficiency

6+ years experience

Cross-functional collab

Portfolio

Mobile optimization

Animation principles

Teamwork

Tools

Spine

Job description

RubyPlay is a place where passion meets competence. Since 2017, we've created 250+ innovative games and built 100+ strong partnerships worldwide.

Proud to be:

• The Winner at BFTH Arena Awards — Best Online Casino Game
• Shortlisted for SBC Awards 2024 — Casino/Slots Developer of the Year
• A strong player across 10+ global markets
• A trusted workplace for hundreds of specialists from 34 countries

As RubyPlay's slot portfolio keeps growing across multiple studios, animation plays an increasingly central role in how our games come to life. We're investing in scaling animation quality and speed alongside the rest of our production pipeline, and building a new kind of role to help lead that effort.

We're now looking for a Principal 2D Animator — a highly autonomous, senior specialist who'll work directly with art directors across different studios and projects, take full ownership of animation delivery from start to finish, and help shape how animation is done across all of RubyPlay.

Role details:

• Department: Art Team
• Employment Type: Full Time
• Location: Warsaw (Remote)
• Workplace type: Fully remote
• Reporting To: Mila Bezditna

Responsibilities:

• Act as a high-level bridge between Art and Tech, resolving cross-team dependencies and bottlenecks to keep animation implementation seamless
• Mentor and coach other animators, raising the team's overall skill level and fostering continuous technical and artistic growth
• Set the studio-wide benchmark for animation quality, driving long-term animation strategy and pipeline efficiency
• Study competitors' feel and timing to raise our own bar and push the industry forward
• Bring experience with VFX for mobile devices — creating effects and working with particle systems
• Deliver top-tier, complex animations — symbols, backgrounds, characters, UI elements, pop-up banners — quickly and to a high standard
• Work across and establish best practices for a wide range of animation styles, from cartoon to realistic to stylised

What Makes You A Strong Candidate:

• Expert-level proficiency in Spine (primary animation tool); strong command of other animation/VFX tools is a plus
• Strong professional English
• 6+ years in the games industry (gambling or non-gambling) with a proven track record of high-level individual contribution
• Proactive and resourceful — able to analyze workflows, spot risks, and independently drive improvements that speed up animation without sacrificing quality
• Strong cross-department collaboration skills — able to communicate complex animation concepts to developers and artists and land on efficient technical solutions together
• An outstanding portfolio showcasing exceptional game animations, technical rigs, and complex problem-solving
• Mastery of animation principles and advanced mobile optimisation techniques
• Outstanding teamwork, communication, and self-development skills

Nice to have:

• The ability to draw
• Gaming background as a user and a deep passion for making and playing video games
• Previous experience in a lead or senior-level position — tell us what being a lead means to you

Why You’ll Love It Here:

• Remote-first, work from anywhere with a setup built for focus and work-life balance
• Learning & development budgets, plus dedicated days to upskill
• Medical coverage and a well-being budget
• Yearly bonus tied to company and individual impact
• Vertical and horizontal career growth opportunities
• A talented, diverse global team

About RubyPlay:

RubyPlay is a progressive and energetic iGaming development studio that specializes in the design and creation of the most entertaining and engaging slot games, as well as value-add tools for gaming operators. RubyPlay was founded by a group of industry gurus and has evolved into a “Gem” of the iGaming industry!

Our team values are maintaining high quality, following the best & modern practices, and continuous development.